SkinnieMinnie

Hi all! I was banded 1 week ago, and I'm still feeling pretty lousy. Honestly, I think it's the gas more so than anything else. The incisions are fine. I'm ever so slightly tender around the port area. I'm guessing this is normal. I wake up fine, but in the afternoon I get these gas pains that turn me into a crying, blubbering mess. I thought they were getting better, I was even going to venture out today, but this afternoon when I went to work (I work from home) the pain was so bad I was crying and shaking. It is during these times that I really question whether I made the right decision. I'm down 16 pounds between the 2-day Clear liquids and post-surgery, but I still find it nearly impossible to get down my Protein shakes every day. I know I'm not drinking enough either, but I can't even bear the thought of it. I'm walking as much as I can and taking Gas-X. I'm still infrequently taking my Lortab, just mainly because of the gas pain. I just wonder if it's normal. My doctor can't see me until Wednesday for my postop, and I haven't called in because I'm assuming this is normal. I've had another surgery, and I bounced back a lot quicker than this. Please tell me it will get better and I won't regret having done this. I'm feeling a little down at this point. Thanks. SM

Hi everyone... remember me? Sorry it's been so long since I've been around. Things have been very hectic these days with my son starting back and school, soccer, etc. Anyway, I'm doing great. I'm down 40 pounds since my band (1-1/2 months or so). My doctor was so thrilled when I went to my appointment. I had to convince him I hadn't had fill yet! LOL. Still doing the low carb thing and feeling good. I hope you all are doing great. Can't wait to catch up. SM

Hi All! I was banded on 6/26, and I've done really well so far. I've followed doctor's orders to a T. I'm supposed to start solid foods on Thursday. I have followed every stage of the diet and postop instruction thus far. Well, today, I had a really crazy afternoon, and I swallowed 2 pills without thinking. I was just running around, realized I needed to take them and popped them both in my mouth at the same time and swallowed. They're each probably the size of an M&M. I didn't even really think about it until now, about 1-2 hours later where I've been working at the computer and feeling something sitting kind of heavy in my stomach, then I realized what I'd done with the pills. Is this a huge deal? Do I need to call the doctor? I feel so silly. It was really just a mindless, inadvertent mistake. I haven't had a fill yet, they didn't come back up, and I've had Water since. I'm so worried that I've done something bad. I see the doctor on Friday. Should I mention it then or do I need to do something about it NOW. Thanks, y'all... Feeling silly, :thumbup: Minnie

Thanks again everyone... really. I feel so much better.

Thanks so much... that makes me feel better!

Bonnie... The scale will move back in the right direction. Just keep on keeping on. A "professional" once told me that it takes 3 to 6 days to see a gain from what you've eaten... Maybe it's from something else? Could be Water.. could be hormones. Keep plugging along! :cool2: Renewed: I would hate it if you left us, so please stay. I was also going to suggest something like South Beach. It's still "Low Carb" just not like Atkins. I think if you stick to good things like fruit and maybe starchy veggies like sweet potatoes, etc that if you're still exercising you'll be fine. I think it's the processed crap that sends up into crazy cravings and makes it hard to control our decisions about what we put in our mouths. Best of luck. I know you'll do great.

Hi everyone. Sorry I haven't been around. Still here and plugging along. I start mushies tomorrow, and I'm a little nervous. Is that crazy? I'm doing so well and losing and not craving anything... I just hate to add in food and ruin it! LOL. I can vouch for Linda Sue's recipes and website. I've been using it for years. While not everything is fabulous, most things are. She's a member of a low carb forum I frequent. Keep on keeping on everyone. You're all doing great. I'm so glad that we have this great thread for support. Everyone is so wonderful. I appreciate having y'all.

Congrats, Renewed, on getting back into ketosis! It makes things so much easier. I'm finally started to feel human again after my surgery. WOOT! I had my postop appt on Wed. and the doctor said everything looked good. I got my stitches out and finally got to see my scars. Not as bad as I thought they'd be! I did check a ketostix just to see what what going on. I'm in heavy ketosis, which I'm thrilled about. Obviously, it's because I haven't eaten food in over 2 weeks, but I know how much it's going to help me when I do move on to solids (and even pureed) to make good choices in what I pick to eat. No rice and mashed potatoes for me. Eggs and creamy soups with meat. Hope everyone is doing great!

I wish I had a magic answer for you, but at least for me there was no magic answer. I think the only thing that helped me was time. I'm 17 days postop and I'm just finally starting to feel good. I did the Gas-X strips and the walking but nothing seemed to help. For me, changing position seemed to move the gas around so I could get rid of it, and a heating pad seemed to ease the pain a bit. Good luck... it WILL get better eventually.

Glad you're feeling better, renewedhope. I know how hard it is to get back on the wagon after "falling off." And to "fall off" because of being so sick, totally not fun. :biggrin: You'll get there. Rugman, thanks for the great post. I'm really looking forward to joining you all once I get back onto food. I'm a little worried because I seem to really be struggling with milk now. I'm guess that is going to count out cheese for me when I get back onto food. I hope that part gets better.

Joan, I'm wishing you all the best and praying for a speedy and full recovery. We're all thinking of you here and praying for the best.

So sorry your feeling bad. I'm 8 days out as well and still suffering terribly with the gas pains. They lay me out at least twice a day. I "vomited" (retched would be a better term since I have nothing in my stomach) from them today. How about Benadryl for the itchy incisions? I wish you the best... I'm hoping I made the right choice too.

Hi everyone... I'm just needing a little hug today. I'm 1 week out and still feeling pretty lousy. I think it's gas pain, to be honest. I'm getting kind of depressed. I knew there would be a recovery period but I'm just getting to the point where I want to start feeling better. I'm having a hard time getting my protein shakes and water in, and that's all I take in. I hope you all are doing well. Band or no band, I really believe low carb is the way to go (at least for me)... and I know we can all be successful at it.

I'm so very sorry. Our pets have a way of creeping into our hearts and changing us forever. I wish you peace until you and Pedro met again.

Hi everyone. I was just banded on Thursday, so I'm still on liquids, but I guess that means I'm low carbing, right? LOL. My goal all along has been to low carb, I got the band to use as a tool to help me stick to low carb. I, too, have PCOS, and I have had my best success with low carb. Right now, 5 days postop I'm not even the slightest bit hungry, so I'm hoping to ease into my mushies and solids doing only low carb. I'm hoping the transition is smooth since I'm not really craving anything right now. I'm so glad I found y'all, and I look forward to getting to know you.

Cathy... can you add me to the 6/26 folks? I'm here and recovering.

Hi Everyone. I had my surgery on Thursday and got home late Friday night. I had quite a bit of vomiting while in the hospital, but it finally let up, and the doctor let me go home. I've been doing fairly well, but having lots of gas pains. I'm walking and taking Gas-X.. I guess it will just be a matter of time. I'm also really struggling to get my protein in. The last thing I want to do is "eat." I'm really trying though. Hope everyone else is doing well.

Thank you all so much! I feel better in the light of day (though I've only been up about 1/2 hour, so they day is still young! LOL). I'm going to get my mother from the airport in about an hour, so there's no turning back now! Thanks again, y'all! I'll keeping checking in. Slinderella, good luck to you on Thursday. We definitely should keep in touch.

I'm going to apologize in advance for posting and running, but I'll be back in the morning. :cool2: As of 24 minutes ago, I'm officially on my 2-day Clear liquids for my surgery on Thursday. I'm scared to death. First of all, there's a very real possibility that the doctor might postpone my surgery because of an infection I have near the operation site. I'm OK with that if that's what's best, but he told me today that he won't be able to make the call until I get to the hospital Thursday morning. Ugh. The worst part of that is that my mother is flying in to help take care of my son while we're at the hospital. I'd hate to drag her down here for nothing. I'm just terribly nervous about the whole operation in general. Mostly, I'm afraid of the anesthesia and not waking up. I know a lot of people fear that though. I'm just keeping thinking that I'm doing this so I can live longer for my son, and I'd hate to die on the table. I feel like a failure for having to have the surgery in the first place. I have been able to tackle every goal I've ever set for myself. Except this one. I just can't do it, and that's not easy for me to say. I feel like this surgery is the last shot I have, and if I can't manage with this then all hope is lost and I'll be fat forever. I just hope I'm making the right decision. I hope I have the strength to get through the 2-day clears OK, and I hope I can handle the after-surgery stuff too. I thought about this surgery literally for years before I actively pursued it and I did a ton of research, so it's not like I didn't go into with some thought. So, please tell me I'm just having cold feet... that everything is going to be fine and I've made a wise decision in going ahead with this. Thanks for sticking with me and reading this far. I really do appreciate it. :smile: I'm not normally this much of a downer. Really, I'm usually quite chipper. :thumbup:

Hi everyone! I just got my date (6/26), so I wanted to introduce myself. I live in Georgia and I'm married to my very supportive husband for 10 years this year. We have a great son who is 6. I've been overweight my entire life, and I finally decided to get the band after many, many years of mulling it over. I finally decided that I'd rather do it sooner rather than later. Luckily, I'm quite healthy except for all this extra weight. I'm very nervous about this surgery, but I really feel this is something I MUST do. Looking forward to getting to know you all.

Hello everyone! I had my upper GI today... It's been about 5 or 6 hours since I've had it and I'm starting to feel a bit blech in the stomach. Did anyone else feel this way? I've been drinking Water nonstop like they told me to because basically I want this crud out of my system. Is it normal to feel sick afterwards? They didn't mention this to me. Thanks, y'all! SM

Just wanted to come back one last time... I'm feeling fine. Things are "moving" along nicely, so to speak. I certainly didn't mean to scare anyone about the upper GI. It's not something I'd choose to do for fun, but certainly wasn't anything to worry about. Just another step in the journey to the band...

Hi everyone. I just introduced myself the other day, but I wanted to share that the scheduler called this morning and told me I'm scheduled for June 26! I'm petrified and excited all at once. I went for my upper GI (BTW, ew! That was NOT fun) and gallbladder ultrasound this morning, so the only thing I have left to do is go to my preop on 6/23! Looking forward to being a June bandster! SM

June 26 here! :tongue2: